David Freeman, minister at Weatherly Heights Baptist Church prays before local faith leaders discuss response to HB56 and viewed the Rev. Dr. Ellin Jimmerson's new documentary on the reasons behind immigration from Mexico during a standing-room-only meeting June 17, 2011, at Faith Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Ala. (The Huntsville Times/Eric Schultz)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- So a youth pastor pulls the church van up, opens the door, and children pile on. Some of them are immigrants without papers, though he doesn't know that and doesn't attempt to find out.

Should that youth pastor be arrested and the church van impounded under the new state immigration law that goes into effect Sept. 1?

No, state Sen. Bill Holtzclaw, R-Madison, answered on Friday.

"Read the law," Holtzclaw said. "It says 'knowingly.'"

Holtzclaw's remarks came at the end of a two-hour meeting of about 90 leaders from area churches, mosques, temples, social service agencies and the community who gathered Friday at Faith Presbyterian Church in Huntsville to learn about the law and about how the faith community will be opposing the new act, known as the Beason-Hammon Taxpayer and Citizens Protection Law.

Holtzclaw, like those gathered, had learned of the meeting through news reports and came, he said, "for all the right reasons."

"I want you to know I am a Christian, I'm a Methodist, and I voted for this law," Holtzclaw said to a quiet murmur of surprise when he introduced himself. "This legislation was written by Christians. I know we may have to agree to disagree, but if we want to effect positive change, there's a right way to do it."

Holtzclaw said he has been dismayed by public statements, including by Methodist Bishop Will Willimon, announcing that clergy intend to break the law, particularly the provision banning giving aid to undocumented immigrants.

Holtzclaw appeared to be the only person at Friday's meeting who supported the law, which was signed by the governor on June 9. The only provisions that go into effect immediately are those authorizing Homeland Security and law enforcement to hire new officers to prepare for enforcement in September.

To provide a context for understanding the surge of migrants into the United States looking for work in the last 20 years, the Rev. Dr. Ellin Jimmerson, a minister to the community from Weatherly Heights Baptist Church, screened a half-hour version of her new documentary, "The Second Cooler / La Segunda Nevera," narrated by Martin Sheen. Jimmerson's 16-year-old daughter, Leigh Anna, and her boyfriend, Tad Mattle, 19, died in an April 17, 2009, crash with a drunk driver. The driver was also an undocumented immigrant, but Jimmerson continued her documentary and advocacy for immigrants.

The title refers to a second cooler that the morgue in Tucson had to install to house the thousands of bodies found in the desert. More than 5,000 people have died attempting to cross the border since 1997, when official records began being kept. Both officials and immigrants estimate thousands more in inaccessible reaches of the desert.

The grim film brought one ironic chuckle from the packed room. That was when one of the film's subtitles blazed on the screen: "Arizona, the new Alabama?"

Jane Bloemetjie, an elder in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, said what she sees as apartheid-like division of human beings into legitimate and illegitimate groupings compels her to work against this law. Bloemetjie was born and lived in South Africa during the apartheid years.

"This takes me right back to those days," Bloemetjie said as she left the meeting. "I was really, really very disappointed in Alabama. We are Christians. The people who are the architects of this legislation call themselves Christian. But, really, what did Jesus do? That's why I'm going to be involved. I can't not be."

Alabama ACLU is providing free bi-lingual seminars, "Know Your Rights," for congregations who would like to host those. The organization, which fights for civil liberties, also needs bi-lingual speakers willing to be trained to give more of the seminars.

Statements from clergy and religious organizations, such as the letter from Bishop Willimon, will be posted at the website of Interfaith Mission Service. The IMS also invites local congregations to contact their office, 256-536-2401, to become involved in a local response to the law.

The Southern Poverty Law Center is seeking information from churches with large Hispanic groups who believe they will be directly effected by the law. Call 800-591-3656.

The final version of the law will be posted on his office website, said state Sen. Bill Holtzclaw.